History Today March 2009 | Volume: 59 Issue: 3 | Page 46-53 | Words: 4347 | Author: Chorley, Asya
Tibetan Voices: Remembering the 1959 Uprising
Despite the crushing of Tibetan independence by China 50 years ago this month, and continuing attempts to stifle support for Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, the country is very much alive in the hearts and minds of its exiled community. Asya Chorley investigates Tibet’s recent history through the experiences of some of those who fled the Chinese regime.
‘I remember very well the start of the Tibetan National Uprising in Lhasa. On March 10th, 1959 a mass meeting was held in front of the Potala and Norbu Lingka Palaces, denouncing the Chinese Communist regime and people marched through the street and, as they marched, they declared that Tibet was independent and that China must quit Tibet. All the time Chinese soldiers with machine guns at the ready were observing the crowd from the roof tops, threatening them through loudspeakers that if the Tibetans did not surrender immediately, Lhasa would be shelled ... I have vivid memories of joining the march and going through Bha-Khor, the high street of Lhasa. At the beginning, as a child, I did not realise the significance of this historic march and all that was happening until I saw the Chinese soldiers threatening us.
It was such a tense and very uncertain time and after two days of shelling and gun fighting, the Chinese completely controlled the city. It was a tragedy for Tibetans not knowing what the situation would be under total Chinese rule and we were extremely worried for the safety of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.’
(Lhakpa Dolma)
The stories of the Tibetan community in exile not ....
